Travel Tuesdays: Cape Town Through Pictures

As Sharee and I prepare for our Take A Leap South Africa webshow, we thought we will share pictures of the first of two locations we will be filming from.

Cape Town & Table Mountain in background
Photo Credit: Friendlyplanet.com

City View of Cape Town
Photo Credit: http://www.capsol.co.za/cape-town-accommodation/NAVONA

Cape Town's Clifton Beach
Photo Credit: southafrica.com

Century City's Canal Walk
Photo Credit: World-guides.com

Malay Vegan Curry found at Rooti located in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront area.
Photo Credit: Veganbackpacker.com

Have you been to Cape Town? What is a restaurant or must food we should try in Cape Town? 

Rhonda W. & Sharee W.

What is My Passion Thursdays: Meet Dawn Bryant

My passion is to run my own business and create relationships with my customers that are positive and impactful. My goal is to not only serve a good product but to serve that product with so much warmth and love that it will carry over into their lives throughout the day. My only goal in my lifetime is to leave an imprint that somehow will affect the world.

I originally went to school to be a Registered Nurse. I always knew since I was a child that I wanted to help people and in some way, so a nurse was what I felt was the best way to do that. As I neared the end of my schooling I realized that I did not have the same passion for it as I had when I first started. I still wanted to help people, but just could not figure out how.

The sacrifices I have made to figure out my path in this life were at a great risk. I discontinued pursuing my Bachelors in Nursing and got a job selling products house to house. I had no idea what I was doing when I first started but I quickly realized that I got satisfaction out of selling people products that they loved and held great value for. I quickly worked my way through the ranks getting promotion after promotion until I reached my glass ceiling. At that time I made the choice to sacrifice my job and move back to South Carolina to build Blythewood Seafood Emporium & BBQ Haven with my family. I quickly gained a strong passion owning and operating my own business and realizing as long as you give people 100 percent of you each and everyday, there will never be any goal you can't reach. The freedom to choose and navigate, and learn from mistakes without having the fear of being replaced was so freeing. It allowed me to focus on what was most important... And that is building lasting, impactful relationships. Relationships that are genuine and not based on a bottom dollar. I feel if I can impact a person in anyway it is only a matter of time before I can impact an entire world.

The advice I would give others is, everything worth having comes as a risk. If you find yourself dreaming it and breathing it... If it keeps you up at night and gives you the energy you need during the day, then their is nothing you need to fear because it has become a part of you. If you believe in yourself and feel in your gut you have what it takes to get it done, then do it. Having your own business is a lot of work and you will have many restless nights but when you get to the point where you begin physically seeing your success, pride overjoys you like seeing your babies face for the first time. It overjoys you because its confirmation that people believe in you and your mission and in some way, you share that same vision which you both experience for the first time together. I would also advice people to have a tough skin because there will be a lot of people you encounter who will try to spread negativity your way. There will be many times you fall but as long as you dust yourself off and learn how to maneuver around that pothole everything will work out just fine.

Photo Credit:
Blythewood Seafood Emportium
& BBQ Haven Facebook Page

Readers can learn about our Business through Facebook (Blythewood Seafood Emporium & BBQ Haven) or visit our website at www.bsebh.com. You can also visit us at our physical location at 420 McNulty Rd, Blythewood, SC 29016. (803) 563-5295

What have you sacrificed to follow your passion?

Rhonda W & Sharee W.

Arreviderci

We're back!! Today was travel day or as I kindly note as the longest day, ever.  The 10 1/2 hr flight from Rome to DC was our longest to date.  Our trip to China in December will clock in at more than 12 1/2 hrs in flight time from Los Angeles to Beijing.

Yesterday, Friday, our last full day in Italy was spent traveling from Firenze (Florence) to Roma (Rome). While everyone else toured the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, we hopped in a taxi to a Mediterranean restaurant called Obika to meet with Arlene Gibbs, screenwriter for Jumping the Broom. We sat around for a little over an hour and gabbed about everything from filmmaking to politics to living and working in Italy. Per a special request, we did not film our conversation, and will be using a previous Skype recording for the show. Nevertheless, we did take the time to take a picture, and will share it during the Rome segment of Take A Leap webshow.

We then rushed back to meet up with the group to head towards the hotel. We were to film our second interview at the hotel prior to dinner, but due to unfortunate circumstances, it did not take place. We will conduct the interview with Ashley S., a 20-yr old Claflin University student, via video Skype next week. We will add her commentary about her 2 month duration in Rome as a United Nations intern to the Rome segment of Take A Leap premiere webshow.

We finalized the night with more than 40 persons at a farewell dinner. The pictures speak for itself, but in case you could not tell, the food was DELICIOUS!!

Focus Focus ..Time Away ..Refocus

My family is getting together for an upcoming weekend trip to NYC. For some, like my nieces and nephews, it'll be their first time. For others, it's been a while.  We've sketched out an itinerary that will include food, shopping, sight-seeing, and entertainment.  We have been focused on the activities and logistics of the trip for the past year, and in the midst of it all, a relative became seriously ill.  We had to take some time away to deal with her health scare.  But now the weekend is upon us.  Do we cancel the trip? Do we gather at the family home?


It has been decided that the trip will go on. However, some of the family have elected to stay behind.  And that is their choice, as it is those that have decided to continue with the trip.  Though it is best believed, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers will be with our dear Aunt/Sister/Grandma.  She has regained much of her strength, and the Lord has and will continuously watch her day by day.

So we have now refocused our attention back on the trip. The hotel rooms are confirmed. The chartered bus has been paid for. The banquet hall and DJ has been booked.  We're a few days away from embarking on our very first true family gathering outside the state, and we're rolling about 30 persons deep.  Our mother, brother, aunties, cousins, nieces, nephews...fun and laughs for sure during our 12 hour journey from SC to NYC.


With our Take A Leap 10-day trip to Italy a little more than three months away, there is some concern and apprehension.  We have travel insurance because we are utilizing a vacation tour package.  But for those who have made life abroad their "career", I would imagine there is no insurance of this kind.  Further, I've wondered how these expats respond to news at home while they are abroad. Do you hop on the next plane "back to the States" or do you remain focus in your "international home" and pray that everything is settled after awhile? Do you miss out often on major family events..weddings, births, funerals, etc? Is there a right or wrong way to handle such sensitive matters? Do you focus focus, take time away to deal with family matters, and refocus on life at hand, as we have done? I would appreciate any comments or advice.

Thanks,
Sharee